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The Collagen Diet

Forget Botox and try this!

Smashed avo and turmeric lattes are so last year. The biggest trends in whole foods and the nutrition sector at the moment are gut health and collagen – and the latter isn’t known as ‘Nature’s Botox’ for no reason.

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Scientific research shows collagen is not only anti-ageing and good for you skin, but it’s also good for health, ligaments, muscle recovery, the gut, and heals the digestive system by repairing it.

Your body uses amino acids to build muscle, bone, cartilage, skin, hair, connective tissue and there are many different types of amino acids, but the type found in collagen are the most abundant in your body due to the role they play in forming connective tissues and skin.

“It acts like a glue in our body,” says Flannerys naturopath Vladia Cobrdova. “So, when we lose collagen, our skin starts sagging, we start losing our hair and our nails start to break.”

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Collagen powders often come from marine life and cattle and is taken in a powder as it dissolves in hot or cold water. 

According to Vladia, collagen powders are really high protein and are ideal for muscle recovery after gym sessions.

“You only use it once a day and can put it in your smoothies, chia puddings, yoghurts and coffees, and we sell shot proof coffee with it in too,” she says.

You can also add more collagen to your diet by eating fish like tuna and salmon which are loaded with omega 3 acids.

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Also lycopene rich foods such as tomatoes, peppers and beets are ideal for creating more collagen.

“Lycopene acts as a natural sunblock, protecting the skin from damage while increasing collagen levels,” says nutritionist Brook Alpert.

And it’s good to stock up on leafy greens, rich in Vitamin C such as kale and spinach.

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“Vitamin C has antioxidizing properties that stabilize the messenger enzymes that break collagen down. It also protects against free radicals to prevent weak collagen,” says dermatologist Dr. Dimitry Palceski.

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